Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
- Entries
- 95,912
- Pages
- 1,538
- Illustrations
- 2,133
Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Scrō'ti-fōrm, a. p. 1186Purse-shaped; pouch-shaped.Scro'to-cēle, n. p. 1186(Med.) A rupture or hernia in the scrotum.Scrō'tum, n. p. 1186(Anat.) The bag which contains the testicles; cod.Scrouge, v. t. p. 1186To crowd; to squeeze. [Prov. Eng. Colloq., U. S.]Scrōw, n. p. 1186A scroll. [Obs.] Palgrave. 2. A clipping from skins; currier's cuttings.Scroyle, n. p. 1186A mean fellow; a wretch. [Obs.] Shak.Scrŭb, v. t. p. 1186To rub hard; usually, to rub with a brush, or with something coarse or rough, for the purpose of cleaning, scouring, or making bright; as, to scrub a floor; to scrub a deck; to scrub vessels of brass…Scrŭb, v. i. p. 1186To be diligent and penurious; as, to scrub hard for a living.Scrŭb, n. p. 1186One who labors hard and lives meanly; a mean fellow. We should go there in as proper a manner as possible; not altogether like the scrubs about us. Goldsmith. 2. Something small and mean. 3. A…Scrŭb, a. p. 1186Mean; dirty; contemptible; scrubby. How dismal, how solitary, how scrub does this town look! H. Walpole. No little scrub joint shall come on my board. Swift.Scrūb'bed, a. p. 1186Dwarfed or stunted; scrubby.Scrūb'by, a. p. 1186Small and mean; stunted in growth; as, a scrubby cur; a scrubby tree.Scrūb'-rāce, n. p. 1186A race between low and contemptible animals, got up for amusement.Serûb'-stōne, n. p. 1186A species of calciferous sandstone. [Prov. Eng.]Scrăff, n. p. 1186Scarf. [Obs.] 2. The nape or long part of the neck behind; as, to take a person by the scruff of the neck. [Prov. Eng.] Wright.Scrūm'mage, n. p. 1186See SCRIMMAGE.Scrūmp'tious, a. p. 1186Nice; particular; fastidious; excellent; fine. [Colloq. and vulgar. U. S.]Scrūnch, v. t. p. 1186To scranch; to crunch.Scru'ple, n. p. 1186A weight of twenty grains, the third part of a dram. 2. Hence, a very small quantity. I will not bate thee a scruple. Shak. 3. Hesitation as to action from the difficulty of determining what is right…Scru'ple, v. i. p. 1186To be reluctant as regards decision or action; to be restrained by considerations of conscience or expedience; to make difficulty; to doubt or hesitate;—nearly always followed by an infinitive. We…Scru'ple, v. t. p. 1186To regard with suspicion; to hesitate to believe; to question; as, to scruple the truth or accuracy of an account or calculation. Others . . . scrupled more the books of heretics than of Gentiles.…Scru'pler, n. p. 1186One who scruples or hesitates; a doubter.Scru'pu-list, n. p. 1186One who scruples; a scrupulous person; a scrupler. [Obs.] Shaftesbury.Scru'pu-lize, v. t. p. 1186To perplex with scruples of conscience. [Obs.]Scru'pu-lōs'i-ty, n. p. 1186The quality or state of being scrupulous; doubt; doubtfulness respecting decision or action; caution or tenderness arising from the fear of doing wrong or offending; nice regard to exactness and…Scru'pu-lous, a. p. 1186Full of scruples; inclined to scruple; nicely doubtful; hesitating to determine or to act; cautious in decision, from a fear of offending or doing wrong. “The offense of their weak brethren who were…Scru'pu-lous-ly, adv. p. 1186In a scrupulous manner; with a nice regard to minute particulars or to exact propriety. Henry was scrupulously careful not to ascribe the success to himself. Addison.Scru'pu-lōūs-ness, n. p. 1186The state or quality of being scrupulous; niceness, exactness, or caution in determining or in acting, from a regard to truth, propriety, or expedience.Scru'ta-ble, a. p. 1186Discoverable by scrutiny, inquiry, or critical examination. [Rare.] Decay of Piety.Scru-tā'tion, n. p. 1186Search; scrutiny. [Obs.]Scru-tā'tor, n. p. 1186One who scrutinizes; a close examiner or inquirer. [Obs.] Ayliffe.Scru'ti-neer', n. p. 1186One who scrutinizes; one who acts as examiner of votes, as at an election, &c.Scru'ti-nize, v. t. p. 1186To search closely; to examine or inquire into critically; to regard narrowly; as, to scrutinize the measures of administration; to scrutinize the private conduct or motives of individuals.Scru'ti-niz'er, n. p. 1186One who scrutinizes, or examines with critical care.Scru'ti-noüs, a. p. 1186Closely inquiring or examining; captious. [Obs.] Denham.Scru'ti-noüs-ly, adv. p. 1186In a scrutinous manner; with close examination.Scru'ti-ny, n. p. 1186Close search; minute inquiry; critical examination; as, a scrutiny of votes. Thenceforth I thought thee worth my nearer view And narrower scrutiny. Milton. 2. (Anc. Church.) An examination of…Scru'ti-ny, v. t. p. 1186The same as SCRUTINIZE. [Obs.]Scru-toire', n. p. 1186A kind of desk, case of drawers, or cabinet, with a lid opening downward for the convenience of writing on it.Serruze, v. t. p. 1186To squeeze, compress, crush, or bruise. [Obs. or low.]Sery, v. t. p. 1186To descry; to observe. [Obs.] Spenser.Sery, n. p. 1186A flock of wild fowl. Halliwell.Sery, n. p. 1186A cry or shout. [Obs.] Ld. Berners.Scŭd, v. i. p. 1186To be driven or to flee or fly with haste; to run with precipitation; to fly. “The first Nautilus that scudded upon the glassy surface of warm, primeval oceans.” I. Taylor. 2. (Naut.) To be driven…Scŭd, v. t. p. 1186To pass over quickly. Shenstone.Scŭd, n. p. 1186The act of scudding; a driving along; a rushing with precipitation. 2. Loose, vapory clouds driven swiftly by the wind. “Borne on the scud of the sea.” Longfellow. 3. A slight, rapid shower. [Prov.…Scŭd'dle, v. i. p. 1186To run with a kind of affected or awkward haste. [Written also scuttle.]Scu'do, n. p. 1186(Com.) (a.) A silver coin and money of account, used in Italy and Sicily, varying in value, in different parts, from a little more than 4 shillings sterling, or about 96 cents, to a little less than…Scüfe, n. p. 1186The racket or stringed battledoor used in striking the ball at tennis. [Scot.] Simmonds.Scŭff, n. p. 1186The back part of the neck; the scruff. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.Scŭf'fle, n. p. 1186A contention or trial of strength between two persons, who embrace each other's bodies; a struggle with close embrace, to decide which shall throw the other;—in distinction from wrestling, which is a…Scŭf'fle, v. i. p. 1187To strive or struggle with close grapple, as two persons. 2. Hence, to strive or contend tumultuously; to struggle confusedly. A gallant man would rather fight to great disadvantages in the field, in…Scuf'fler, n. p. 1187One who scuffles. 2. An agricultural implement resembling the scarifier, but usually lighter.Scŭg, v. t. p. 1187To hide. [Prov. Eng.] Grose.Scŭg, n. p. 1187A place of shelter; the declivity of a hill. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.Scŭlk, v. i. p. 1187To retire into a close place for concealment; to skulk.Scŭlk'er, n. p. 1187One who sculks. See SKULKER.Scŭll, n. p. 1187The skull; the brain-pan.Scŭll, n. p. 1187A shoal or multitude of fish. [Obs.] Fish that with their fins and shining scales Glide under the green wave in sculls, that oft Bank the mid sea. Milton.Scŭll, n. p. 1187(Naut.) (a.) A boat; a cock-boat. See SCULLER. (b.) An oar so short that one man can work a pair; especially, a single oar used in propelling a boat, being placed over the stern of a boat, and worked…